Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 278 My Second Brother is in Trouble
In February, Ji Lian had already gone on vacation. Yan Jiekuang hadn't seen her for a long time and missed her very much. When he was free, he would always hang around Ji Lian, make delicious food for her and want to chat with her. But as soon as Ji Lian went on vacation, she focused on the children and ignored Yan Jiekuang. She had not been with the children for a long time, so when she came back, she just hung around the children. Yan Jiekuang had no choice but to do the logistics service work silently.

On the day of the Little New Year, Yan Jiekuang started preparing things to take home early in the morning. He got a roe deer, two flying dragons, and some yellow croakers. He also brought three ginsengs, one for each of his parents and Mr. Ji, as they are very good for the body and good for the elderly.

Ji Lian also packed things for the children, at least they had to take toiletries and change of clothes. Yan Jiekuang said hello to Ji Lian and went to Chaofengzhai. It was already a holiday here, so Yan Jiekuang planned to use the van and had already informed Wang Qing about it.

The car stopped at the entrance of Chaofengzhai. Yan Jiekuang got into the car and looked around Chaofengzhai. Wang Qing did a good job by pasting Spring Festival couplets and hanging red lanterns in advance. Yan Jiekuang drove back to Yuer Hutong, and Ji Lian took the children to load things into the car. Most of them were snacks, which Ji Lian had bought for them before. Because of these snacks, Ji Lian also went to Friendship Shopping Mall on purpose.

Yan Jiekuang was also carrying New Year's goods, and soon they were all loaded into the car. Ji Lian and the children also got in the car. Yan Jiekuang drove to the intersection of No. 95 Courtyard in a flash. The car could only be parked at the intersection. Yan Jiekuang asked Ji Lian to take the children in first, and he carried the New Year's goods himself. After a while, Yan Yongqing came and helped Yan Jiekuang deliver the New Year's goods to his mother.

After Yan Yongqing finished moving, he refused to get out of the car no matter what, saying that he was just going to take a look. Yan Jiekuang couldn't persuade him, so he gave the car keys to Yan Yongqing and asked him to lock the car when he had looked enough.

When Yan Jiekuang entered the house, it was very lively. Yongchang, Yongfang, Yongxin, Dapang, Xiaopang, Shi Lei and Shi Li, all of them were there, chattering around Yang Ruiping, and Yang Ruiping was smiling from ear to ear.

After a while, Yan Yongqing came in with three boxes and said, "Uncle, you forgot this in the car. I brought it to you."

When Yan Jiekuang saw that it was the three ginseng roots, he had really forgotten about them. He took them and handed them to Yang Ruiping, saying, "I bought them by chance. You, my dad, and Mr. Ji get one each."

When Yang Ruiping opened one of the boxes, she was stunned. It was the first time she had seen such a big ginseng, much bigger than those on the counter of Tong Ren Tang.

Yang Ruiping asked: "It's so big, how many years has it been?"

"About 70 or 80 years, less than a hundred years, in the forests of Northeast China." Yan Jiekuang said.

Yang Ruiping handed over a box and said, "Hurry up and go to the inner room to give it to your father. Your father has been lying in bed since he came back from Liulichang that day. He doesn't even go to the store."

Only then did Yan Jiekuang realize that his father was in the inner room, so he took the ginseng and walked towards the inner room.

When he entered the room, he saw Yan Bugui half leaning on the kang, covered with a quilt, his eyes closed, and a white towel on his head. Yan Jiekuang almost laughed out loud, but he held back his laughter and walked to Yan Jiekuang and said, "Dad, are you feeling better?"

Yan Bugui opened his eyes, and when he saw that it was Yan Jiekuang, he closed them again and said, "Are you here to irritate me? Are you happy if it's as you said?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "No way, I won't laugh at you. This kind of thing happens a lot in Liulichang. Just take it as a lesson."

Yan Bugui opened his eyes and wailed, "Buy a lesson? That's too expensive, my money is fifteen hundred!"

Yan Jiekuang sighed and said, "I brought you something good. Take a look. This is something you can only encounter once in a while."

Yan Bugui looked at Yan Jiekuang. Yan Jiekuang handed the box to Yan Bugui. Yan Bugui took it, opened it, sat up suddenly, and asked, "How many years?"

"About 70 or 80 years old. You'll have to ask the pharmacy for the exact number. This is purely wild from Northeast China. Look how big it is." Yan Jiekuang said.

"You still have a conscience. Okay, I don't have anything to do. Let's go and cook. Today is the Little New Year." Yan Bugui said.

Yan Jiekuang asked: "Is the store open? You didn't give those aunts a holiday."

"Yes, the store is closed. I wanted to go there, but I didn't have the energy to go there, so it wasn't open," said Yan Bugui.

Yan Jiekuang said, "Dad, you've been smart all your life. The New Year is the time when every household buys things. How much money have you lost?"

When Yan Bugui heard this, he thought it was true, and quickly got up and said, "I'll go and help later. I'm afraid I can't handle it." Then he went to wash his face.

Yan Bugui then returned to the main hall. Yang Ruiping looked at Yan Jiekuang and asked, "How is it? Are you up?"

"In a moment, you will see a lively Comrade Yan Bugui," said Yan Jiekuang.

Yang Ruiping curled his lips in disbelief. At this moment, he saw Yan Bugui coming out of the inner room in high spirits. He greeted the children and said to Yang Ruiping, "I'm going to the store first. You and my daughter-in-law can help me if you have nothing to do." Then he left.

Yang Ruiping looked at Yan Bugui's back in surprise, then gave Yan Jiekuang a thumbs up.

Shi Xiaoya came over at this time and said, "I'll go help my dad. I can't help here."

Yang Ruiping nodded and said, "Go ahead. I'll call you guys when it's time for dinner."

The children were playing in the main room, while Yan Jiekuang and Yang Ruiping went to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients. When Yang Ruiping saw what Yan Jiekuang brought, he asked him what kind of meat it was. Yan Jiekuang introduced the ingredients to his mother.

Ji Lian was in the main room with the children. She heard some noise at the door and saw Yan Yongqing coming in. Yan Yongqing called out, "Hello, auntie!"

Ji Lian smiled and said, "Hello, too. I feel like you've grown taller again."

Yan Yongqing scratched his head embarrassedly and asked, "Where is my uncle?"

"In the kitchen, your grandma is there too." Ji Lian said.

Yan Yongqing went straight to the kitchen and saw Yan Jiekuang and said, "Uncle, here are the keys. I've locked the car for you."

Yan Jiekuang had something in his hand and it was inconvenient for him to take it, so he said, "Here, put it in my pocket."

"Did you drive here?" Yang Ruiping asked.

"Yes, I drove the shop's van here. It's New Year's Day, so it's more convenient to go out." Yan Jiekuang said. Yan Yongqing was standing nearby and hadn't left yet. Yang Ruiping smiled and asked, "Grandson, what's wrong with you?"

Yan Yongqing said, "Grandma, I want my uncle to teach me how to drive." Yang Ruiping turned to look at Yan Jiekuang, who said nonchalantly, "Okay, I'll teach you these two days when I have nothing to do. We're all at home anyway."

When Yan Yongqing heard this, he almost jumped up and turned around to leave. Yang Ruiping asked, "Can Yongqing learn to drive?"

"You have to learn it sooner or later. I guess if his father heard about it, he would also want to learn it." Yan Jiekuang said.

"Yes, it is more convenient to have a car. Besides, his wife runs a store, so it is easier to purchase goods with a car." Yang Ruiping said.

The mother and son were in the kitchen, chatting and preparing lunch. According to Yang Ruiping's idea, they would just have a quick lunch and then have dinner together in the evening.

Yan Jiekuang had no objection. He suggested having some noodles with soybean paste and two dishes for lunch, and then making dumplings after lunch in the afternoon. With such a large family, a lot of dumplings would have to be made.

Yan Jiekuang marinated the beef and stewed the pig's trotters with soybeans, then he and his mother began to prepare the dumpling filling.

Near noon, Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li also arrived, followed by Yan Yongqing.

Yu Li went into the house and went to find Ji Lian. The two chatted animatedly. Yan Jiecheng leaned against the kitchen door and chatted with Yan Jiekuang. After chatting for a long time, Yan Jiekuang realized that Yan Jiecheng wanted him to drive out tomorrow to take their family to his father-in-law's house. Yan Jiekuang agreed.

Lunch was ready. Yan Jiekuang cut some braised beef with garlic sauce, and prepared a large pot of pig's trotters stewed with soybeans. Then he started to cook noodles.

When two large bowls of noodles were placed on the table, everyone rushed over. Yang Ruiping put the noodles and vegetables that had been prepared in advance into a basket and went straight to the store.

As Yan Yongchang ate, he said, "Third uncle's noodles with soybean paste are still the best. The pig's trotters are also delicious, and the beef is also delicious."

Everyone laughed. Yan Jiekuang said, "Then eat quickly. If it's not enough, I'll serve more. Oh, no need to leave any for my mom. She's eating over there, and she's eating for my dad."

Everyone had a satisfying lunch. After lunch, Yu Li and Ji Lian cleaned up the dishes and went to the store to see if they could help. Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiekuang went to the yard to smoke. Yan Yongqing asked Yan Jiekuang, "Uncle, when will you teach me how to drive?"

"Not today. I have to make dumplings and cook in the afternoon. Let's wait until you come back from your grandpa's house." Yan Jiekuang said.

When Yan Jiecheng heard this, he grabbed Yan Jiekuang and said, "I want to learn too."

"I've guessed that you wanted to learn. If you let one sheep go, you can let a flock of sheep go too. We can teach them all together," said Yan Jiekuang.

The three were smoking and chatting when they heard someone outside shouting, "Is Yan Jiekuang here? There's a letter for you. Yan Jiekuang, come out and get the letter."

Yan Jiekuang was a little puzzled as to who would write to him, but he went out anyway and saw a postman sitting astride a green bicycle. He had no intention of getting off and seemed to be in a hurry to deliver the letter.

Yan Jiekuang walked over and said, "I am Yan Jiekuang, but I don't live here. Why were you sent here?"

"It's OK if it's Yan Jiekuang. I don't know either. Please take it first. I have other things to do." said the postman.

Yan Jiekuang took the letter and signed the postman's registration book.

Yan Jiekuang did not return to the hospital. He just stood there reading the letter. There was no signature. When he opened the letter, it was very brief. It said, "Jiekuang: Hello! Although we have never met, we have been friends for a long time. Something happened here. Something happened to your second brother. Don't tell your family. Guangzhou People's Hospital, come quickly!" It was signed by Wang Xuedong.

After reading it, Yan Jiekuang was shocked and almost cried, but who is Wang Xuedong? After thinking for a long time, he suddenly remembered that he was the head of his second brother's group.

At this time, Yan Jie Di had just returned from her classmate's visit. As soon as she reached the door, she saw Yan Jie Kuang with an ugly face. Yan Jie Di shouted, "Third brother, what happened?"

When Yan Jiekuang saw that it was Yan Jiedi, he forced a smile and said, "Little sister, it's okay. Something happened at my classmate's house. By the way, go in quickly. There's food left for you in the kitchen."

Yan Jie Di was a little suspicious, but still went into the yard. Yan Jie Kuang walked towards the store, went in, called Ji Lian, and the two walked out.

Yan Jiekuang said, "My second brother might have had an accident. Someone in the army asked me to go to Guangzhou. I have to leave tomorrow. I'll tell them that my classmate has an accident. Please don't tell my family."

Ji Lian asked sternly, "What happened? Do you want me to go with you?"

"I don't know either. I'll have to go there to find out. But what was sent was a letter, not a telegram. Maybe they didn't want too many people to know." Yan Jiekuang said.

Ji Lian then gave up the idea of ​​going with them. While the two were talking, Yang Ruiping came out of the store with Yu Li and Shi Xiaoya, talking and laughing.

Yang Ruiping said jokingly: "What private matters are the young couple talking about? Let's go make dumplings."

Yan Jiekuang quickly said, "It's nothing, let's go."

The group went home to make dumplings. The whole family joined in, even Yan Yongqing. The children also wanted to make dumplings, but they just made trouble and looked like pretty boys, which made everyone laugh.

In the evening, Yan Jiekuang cooked himself and prepared a large table of dishes, especially the braised roe deer meat and Feilong soup, which were very popular with everyone. Yan Jiekuang had something on his mind, but he still tried to remain calm and drank with his father and brother, but he got drunk after a while, and Ji Lian helped him back.

The next day, early in the morning, Yan Jiekuang gave the car keys to Ji Lian and said that if his elder brother needed it, he should find a driver himself. Then he put on his coat, climbed over the wall without going out of the main gate, and headed straight for the train station.

(End of this chapter)